Helmet-mounted holographic aiming sight

ABSTRACT

A head-coupled sighting reticle having a hologram incorporated in a helmet faceplate illuminated by a point source of light. The hologram is constructed by creating a spherical-plane waveinterference pattern. In operation, the pilot looks through the hologram, and superimposes the virtual image of a point source, or other configuration, on the target. The pilot&#39;&#39;s head position then indicates the direction to the target.

,FSEARCH R I 6.19 39633119595 7 0019 v X 2,661 "x w llllbr [H] 99 i [72] Inventor Reed A. Farrmr [56] References Cited Southfield Mich- UNITED STATES PATENTS 55"; 3 i 1970 3,107,270 10/1963 Hildebrand 350/10 [221 g e d Y 11,1972 3,170,979 2/1965 Baldwin @1111. 350/298 [451 T' reds t M 3,264,002 8/l966 Palumbo 33 460 [731 1 22 ff xfgf i 3,436,151 4/1969 Conrose 33/46 0 p y y FOREIGN PATENTS 1,532,389 6/1968 France 350/35 Primary Examiner-David Schonberg Assistant Examiner-Ronald J. Stern An0rneysR. S, Sciascia and Roy Miller [54] HELMET-MOUNTED HOLOGlRAlPHllC AIMING SIGHT ABSTRACT: A head'coupled s1ght1ng ret1cle havmg a holo- 5 Clams 2 Drawing Figs gram incorporated in a helmet faceplate illuminated by a point [52] U.S.C| 350/35, source 0f light, The hologram is constructed by creating 3 356/247, 33/460 spherical-plane wave-interference pattern. In operation, the [51] Int.Cl ..G02b 27/34 pilot looks through the hologram, and superimposes the vir- [50] Field of Search ..350/3.5, l0, tual image of a point source, or other configuration, on the 72, 174, 248, 298; 356/153, 142, 247, 251, 252; target. The pilots head position then indicates the direction to 33/46 G, 50 A, 48, 64 B; 2/6 the target. 4

PATENTED JAN! 1 B72 1 N VENTOR. REED A. FARRAR ROY MILLER ATTORNEY.

HELMET-MOUNTED I'IOLOGRAPHIC AIMING SIGHT GOVERNMENT INTEREST The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The preferred embodiment of the invention relates to the field of weaponry sighting. Previous head-coupled weaponsighting devices used by aircraft pilots have been lens systems attached to the pilots helmet. These devices are heavy, bulky, and clumsy. Although they can be used by helicopter pilots, the weight of the prior devices creates an unbearable strain on the pilot of a high-speed machine when his aircraft is under a heavy G-load" configuration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is small, lightweight and easy to operate. An off-axis, Fresnel lens hologram, constructed by creating a spherical-plane wave-interference pattern, is mounted on the faceplate of a pilots helmet and illuminated by a spherical wave source, such as from a laser. When the pilot looks through the hologram, a virtual image of a point source, or other configuration, is reconstructed at infinity. By superimposing that point on an object, the pilot indicates the direction to the object.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the creation of the hologram; and

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT sion; and may be attached to or included in faceplate 16, or placed in any suitable position in the pilot's line of sight.

Referring to FIG. 2, the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises hologram 18 positioned in a covering relationship to the pilot's right or left eye as preferred, faceplate l6, helmet 20, and fiber optic 22 extending from point source 24, or other configuration, for illuminating hologram 118 with spherical waves. The means for illuminating the hologram may be any number of point sources and fiber optics in any suitable arrangement to present the desired or required image to the operator for any intended application. Additionally is virtual image 24 of a point source, and target or object 26. Image 24' is the virtual image of the apparent point source of plane wave 114, i.e., the point which appears to be the source of wave 14.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: Hologram I8 is illuminated by spherical waves from point source 24 via fiber optic 22. A pilot, detecting target or object 26, superimposes the virtual image 24 which he sees of a point source by looking through hologram 18, on target or object 26.

When coupled with any of the available devices capable of determining the position of a pilots helmet within a eockpiL and its orientation with respect to a reference line, the present invention precisely designates the direction to a remote target or object.

What is claimed is:

1. A sight for indicating the direction to a target, comprismg:

a helmet to be worn by an aircraft pilot;

an at least semitransparent visor mounted on said helmet,

including an at least semitransparent, spherical-plane wave-interference pattern hologram positioned in covering relationship to one of said pilots eyes when said pilot is wearing said helmet;

means for illuminating said hologram such that a virtual image of at least one point source is seen by saidpilot wearing said helmet when he views said target, including an illuminating, spherical wave source and at least one fiber optic for transmitting the illumination of said source to said hologram;

whereby the direction to said target is indicated by superimposing said virtual image on said target.

2. The sight of claim 1 wherein said hologram is constructed in hologram-recording material integral to said visor.

3. The sight of claim ll wherein said hologram attached to said visor.

4. The sight of claim I wherein said spherical wave source is a laser.

5. The sight of claim I wherein the hologram-recording material of said hologram comprises dichromated gelatin. 

1. A sight for indicating the direction to a target, comprising: a helmet to be worn by an aircraft pilot; an at least semitransparent visor mounted on said helmet, including an at least semitransparent, spherical-plane waveinterference pattern hologram positioned in covering relationship to one of said pilot''s eyes when said pilot is wearing said helmet; means for illuminating said hologram such that a virtual image of at least one point source is seen by said pilot wearing said helmet when he views said target, including an illuminating, spherical wave source and at least one fiber optic for transmitting the illumination of said source to said hologram; whereby the direction to said target is indicated by superimposing said virtual image on said target.
 2. The sight of claim 1 wherein said hologram is constructed in hologram-recording material integral to said visor.
 3. The sight of claim 1 wherein said hologram attached to said visor.
 4. The sight of claim 1 wherein said spherical wave source is a laser.
 5. The sight of claim 1 wherein the hologram-recording material of said hologram comprises dichromated gelatin. 